Fun Fact, Anesidora is another name for Pandora. Also sorry for any OOC moments as I have not written these characters in a bit. Now let's see what happens at this heist.
Conan yawned. Why on earth did KID decide to hold a heist so late at night? He knew that Conan had to have school the next day, and after last time with the lack of sleep he figured he would want the young boy, physically anyway, to have plenty of sleep.
He was standing surrounding by police officers from the KID task force. Jirokichi was explaining the various traps. All in all, a very normal KID heist. Since it was a Jirokichi heist, there were plenty of media and a multitude of KID's Fanclub already out the doors. Conan could hear them even through the windows.
Nakamori Keibu was belting out orders in the thick of it.
"Group C, go to all the door entrances. Do not let anyone in. The rest of us will be guarding Conan-kun and not letting anyone near him. I have already checked all of you, and it is still another two and a half hours until the heist."
Conan sighed. This was a great and terrible idea. If KID really wanted to, he could just as easily knock him out and steal the jewel, or pick pocket him, and he didn't exactly have the stature to fight him off if he really got serious. However, Jirokichi was hard to say no to, and when Sonoko was next to him threatening him with her gaze he definitely couldn't. Not to mention it was a KID heist, the first one in a long time. He wouldn't miss it for the world. He wondered absentmindedly as he found a bench to sit on, what kind of miracle he would perform for him; he didn't hint it in his note.
Conan eyed Anesidora's Heart in his gloved hand, folding it over in his hands. It really was a gorgeous gem, a deep indigo that reminded him of KID's eyes. He didn't know what to do with it. It just felt so easy for KID to pick pocket it off him if it wasn't directly in his hands. Even then, he could still probably rob him blind. He wished he had a trick box or something. His other hand circulated between his belt, watch, and shoes in nervous rotation. He felt uneasy, which he shouldn't be. This was a KID's heist after all, but then again, KID's heists no longer were one hundred percent safe.
Conan glanced around, utilizing his time by studying the guards around him. Had KID already infiltrated the ranks? If he did, he was going to find him, kill some time.
Nakamori Keibu had picked him up at 6 PM, grumbling about rich old men with their whims, and 'putting a child in danger for a gem was foolish'. He had already been here an hour and a half and he still couldn't settle down. Could it be because KID's organization was going to participate in tonight's heist? Is that why his gut was tying itself up in knots?
"Conan-kun, are you ok?"
He looked up to see Nakamori gazing down at him, his eyes softer than normal. Conan smiled childishly, putting forth a lot of his saccharine sweetness.
"I am ok Nakamori Keibu. I just can't wait to catch KID."
Nakamori nodded and boasted confidently.
"Don't worry, we will definitely catch him this time. Advisor Jirokichi has trapped the entire museum, not just this floor."
Yes, they were on the top floor of the museum, which was the third floor, where it was just a large open room with exhibits in it. There were plenty of windows, which were reinforced in case KID tried his hang glider trick. They were prepared, at least they thought they were.
Conan smirked confidently, but his face dropped when Nakamori turned away. Normally he would feel like that, but tonight felt…different. And he couldn't put his finger on why it was different, which was making him more nervous by the minute.
"Conan-kun."
A new voice joined the pre-heist atmosphere.
"Nakamori Keibu! This woman wanted to come in and she wouldn't take no for an answer."
Conan turned toward the door to see Ran walking toward him, bento box in hand, escorted by three officers. He physically relaxed and smiled on sight.
"Ran-neechan."
Nakamori held up a hand.
"It's ok. She takes care of him. Did you check and make sure it wasn't KID?"
One of the soldiers nodded.
"Of course sir. We pinched and pulled but her face didn't come off."
Ran smiled warmly at Nakamori Keibu.
"I am really sorry Nakamori Keibu. I thought Conan-kun might be hungry so I brought him a snack. I didn't think to bring some for all of you."
Conan reached out to take the bento box but hesitated. Ran looked normal enough, but KID knew of his weakness to Ran and knew that he would let his guard down around him. Was this KID? Was this drugged? No, he wouldn't steal the jewel now, not before the heist. This had to be the real Ran. He took the box and chopsticks with a smile.
"Thank you Ran-neechan."
Ran smiled down at him.
"Be careful Conan-kun. You will catch KID right?"
Conan nodded, laughing sheepishly.
"I will try my best Ran-neechan."
KID was beyond elusive; it was going to be hard to catch him even with all the traps, taskforce, and Conan's own resources. That didn't mean he wasn't going to put forth every bit of his energy to capturing the thief.
"Well eat to keep up your strength. You will need all of it to catch that thief."
She turned to Nakamori Keibu.
"Good luck Keibu."
Ran bowed slightly and allowed the escorts to take her back out of the large room. Conan sat down on a nearby bench, slipping the jewel in his pocket as he pulled open the lid. His eyes widened slightly before he carefully schooled his expression.
The box was filled with steamed rice with a pristine white card on top. The card had a simple but easily recognizable caricature. KID's sign.
Conan glanced around to make sure all of the task force was doing their own devises, and back to the door where Ran had disappeared to. So that was KID? Why would he announce his presence like this, unless he had a death wish? All of Conan's detective senses were shouting at him to call down the wrath of the task force on the trusting thief. But curiosity nagged at him. If he told him that he was here and his disguise, he must need something of him.
Conan pretended to take a bite out of the rice as he flipped over the card and barely raised an eyebrow. A single word adorned the card. Bathroom. Conan's eyes snapped up. There was one bathroom on this floor, just down the way toward the elevator. All of the officers were milling around preparing for KID's supposed arrival. He could easily go now.
He slipped down from the bench and tottered up to Nakamori Keibu.
"Keibu, I am going to go to the bathroom, and check on some of the traps. I will be back soon ok?"
Nakamori Keibu glanced at the clock.
"Sure thing, make it quick. If you take too long, I will come find you."
Conan nodded, and scampered off, trying to pretend he needed to go, and not go meet an international criminal.
He stopped in front of the doors, overly cautious. What if he was wrong, and this was a trap? He would face KID as he normally would, armed and ready. Maybe he could end this heist before it even begun. He put his hand on his watch just in case, flicked on his shoes, and pushed against the door.
The bathroom was well lit, showing a mirror, two sinks, and two stalls. Conan bent down, looking under the stalls to see if anyone was there. There was a singular pair shoes sticking out of the very last stall. Not even trying to hide? Conan stalked forward slowly, nudging open the door with his knee, watch up at the ready.
Ran was sitting on the toilet, arms folded and fingers tapping rapidly against her bicep impatiently. Her violet eyes flicked up to him as he stepped into the stall.
"Took you long enough."
That settled it as the tone was that buttery tenor that Conan had heard many times. He tightened his grip on his watch before sighing, dropping his weapon completely. KID wouldn't have revealed himself to him if it wasn't important.
"What are you doing here?"
KID raised an eyebrow as if Conan had asked a stupid question.
"Stealing a gem of course. Speaking of, I need that."
He held out his hand expectantly. Conan gaped incredulously.
"You don't expect me to just give it to you, do you?"
KID lowered his hand, chuckling as he switched over to Ran's voice.
"You wouldn't even give it to me?"
Conan narrowed his eyes, ignoring the jibe. That laugh had sounded strained.
"KID, what's wrong?"
The Phantom Thief sighed, shoulders dropping as he ordered seriously.
"Kudo, I need that gem, and you need to cancel the heist."
Conan's eyes widened. KID never called him by his real name. This must be severe. The only thing he could think of is that the mysterious organization after KID was attacking.
"Why? Are they coming tonight?"
KID huffed. This was taking more time then he anticipated. He expected Conan to pick up on the mood and just hand it over. Although to be fair, they were still in their roles of thief and detective. He was expecting a lot of Tantei-kun to be an accomplice in his larceny with basically the bare amount of trust they had between each other. He tried to remain calm, but his nerves were shot. Every second was wasted time. He explained, slightly exasperatedly.
"Do you remember in the forest when you were interrogating me, you said that me and them are looking for the same thing, and that is why they are trying to kill me?"
Conan's hand drifted to his pocket, genius gears whirling in his brain as he asked, astonished.
"Wait, is this it?"
KID nodded, taking note of the location of the gem. He had half the mind to just rip the gem out of Conan's grasp, but no, he needed the detective.
"I am like ninety eight percent sure. I need it."
Conan immediately pulled his hand away, mind racing. This was random, but luckily, he had been planning for this.
"Are they here yet?"
KID shook his head.
"Don't think so. I think they are going to come during the actual heist and take care of me and it at the same time."
Conan unwillingly winced. He would like to avoid that outcome at all costs. KID continued.
"That's why you need to cancel the heist, and I need to take that right now. Usually I would follow my rules of my heist, but if I want to outsmart them, I need to be unpredictable."
Conan took a deep breath. Ok, he understood, he glanced toward the door. He was running out of time. Nakamori Keibu said he would come and find him if he didn't come back soon. He got straight to the point.
"What is your plan?"
KID smirked, his hand flourished and winked a jewel in existence.
"I have a few copies. Take one and trade it out and give it to Nakamori Keibu, say that it is a fake and give him this."
He handed Conan a card.
"It explains my unwillingness to participate tonight. Then leave and get the task force, the fan club, the media, everyone to leave."
Conan raised an eyebrow.
"Where will you go? If you go back to your house or anywhere else, will they follow you? I assume they know your general location and can track you. Are you willing to do that?"
KID froze. He was going to go to the Blue Parrot and find a way to destroy it with Jii, but who knew if that was compromised or not. Conan hissed.
"Unexpected remember? Come to my place. My house, not Mouri Detective agency."
KID's smirk fell a little bit.
"Don't you already have someone living there?"
Conan grinned.
"Luckily for you, he is out of town."
'Subaru' was out scouting for the FBI and wouldn't be back for another week. KID sighed, dropping his head, shaking it in amazement.
"Lady Luck does seem to love me. But I suppose I haven't asked yet."
Conan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
KID took a shaky breath, and even through Ran's disguise, Conan could see the elusive phantom thief, more human then he had ever been before.
"Tantei-kun, this is going to be dangerous. I know this, but I can't think of anyone else better for this. My goal for this organization over the next couple of days is to drag them out of the darkness, and eradicate it. Wipe it from the earth, and to destroy this gem. It could get you injured, or even killed, but I need your help. Tantei, I want you to solve my case."
Conan stepped back slightly. He didn't expect full cooperation from the thief. He didn't expect to hear and accept a case in a men's bathroom of a museum either. He remembered all those months ago, when the two of them talked, how guarded and reluctant he was to let him in, pushing him away for his safety and Conan had understood that as someone running from their own syndicate. But now, he was extending a hand, trust filled, and willing to work with him. That showed his dedication to his goal.
KID watched as the detective thought about it, but he had no worries about his request; he already knew how the detective would decide.
Conan straightened confidently, a determined gleam in his iridescent blue eyes.
"Of course I will take your case. When you get back to my house, I need as much information as you can give me."
KID smiled, holding out a hand.
"You better not get in my way."
Conan smirked, grasping the hand tightly.
"Not on your life, idiot thief."
They shook solemnly, before drawing back, a strong, almost friendly alliance falling into place. Conan glanced toward the door.
"I need to take care of some things before I come over so meet me there in an hour?"
KID smirked.
"If it is your loved ones, don't worry, I work fast."
Conan narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
KID huffed proudly.
"A small feat really. The Mouris won two tickets to some hot springs in Hokkaido for a week and they think you are staying with Agase Hakase. Agase Hakase is taking the detective boys on a skiing and snowboarding trip for the next few days and think you are with the Mouris."
Conan's mouth dropped open. KID had already thought of all of that? Now he could focus on totally on the mission at hand instead of worrying about anyone he cared about. Although, that meant KID had anticipated his answer to his request. Was he really that predictable? He smiled gratefully.
"Thank you. Now, I am going to go cancel this heist."
KID held out a hand.
"I will hold onto Anesidora's Heart Tantei-kun."
Conan raised an eyebrow, pushing open the stall door.
"Not on your life. This alliance is fine, but I can't trust you not to leave me behind, this could have been a ruse to get me to just hand over the jewel. I will hold onto it until we destroy it."
KID swallowed hard. Conan was right, he could easily take it himself if he wanted, but if he wanted trust from the detective, he couldn't make any moves. Conan smiled reassuredly.
"Don't worry. I promise I will give it to you to destroy. Let me just hold onto it for a little longer."
Before KID could say another word, he whisked out of the bathroom. He had limited time. It was already another two hours before the heist, but the organization was probably already here, if they were worth their salt anyway. He needed to get everyone home so he could focus on just keeping an idiot thief out of the line of fire.
He padded up to Nakamori Keibu already employing his mother's acting skills by exclaiming urgently.
"Nakamori Keibu! I found this on the bathroom mirror!"
Nakamori whipped around eyes widening at the card in Conan's hand. He snatched it out of his hand, reading it aloud.
"Alas, this jewel is nothing but an elaborate fake, and I will not be trying to partake, Anesidora's Heart, if you were real I would take part. Until next Moonlit night, the Kaitou KID."
Nakamori's face dropped in disappointment, turning over the card to see the signature, and froze. Instead of just the monocle, there was a bright red X covering the monocle. He glanced down at Conan.
"Is this...?"
He trailed off. Conan nodded solemnly.
"Worst case scenario it seems."
Jirokichi leaned over the inspector's shoulder, reading the note.
"That can't be true. I was there when they excavated it. It can't be a fake."
Conan put the fake jewel back on the display case, stating childishly.
"Well if KID isn't coming, we need to send everyone home."
Jirokichi started to throw a fit.
"How dare he accuse one of my jewels as a fake. I would never do that."
Nakamori Keibu snapped his fingers and two of his closest operatives appeared at his side.
"You two escort Advisor Jirokichi downstairs and explain to the media what is going on. There will be no heist tonight."
The task force glanced at each other uneasily as the officers escorted a trading Jirokichi downstairs. The failed heist from the spring still haunted them and they suspected something similar was happening now. Once Jirokichi was gone, Nakamori proclaimed.
"The heist is cancelled, but if what KID is telling us is true, we have some truly bad criminals coming soon, the same ones that dropped in uninvited to that heist. I for one will not let them run rampant in our heist where our only goal is to catch an alive KID, and he will live his life in jail, and not have it cut short by a bullet. If you want to stay you may, but I for one are staying."
Nakamori Keibu glanced around at his men. No one moved, and their faces were set in grim resolute lines. No one was willing to leave at this point. He nodded.
"Good. Now we can keep the booby traps and we will stay in this room and see what little fly comes into the web. Let's get ready people. We need as much Kevlar as we can get."
Conan opened his mouth to protest, as this was undoubtedly not what KID wanted. After all, he expressed his concern for the task force and Nakamori Keibu last time this happened, and he doubted he would want them to stay and fight like this, but these were officers of the law; they, like him, had a strong sense of justice that led them to fight any criminal in the darkness. He doubted he would have listened either if someone tried to convince him of the safer, but not fulfilling path.
"Conan-kun."
He looked up at the inspector who was looking resolved.
"You should go home. I don't want to bring a child into this kind of battle."
Conan nodded seriously. Since he had the real jewel it would be unwise for him to stay here any longer. He stepped toward the door, very intent to call a cab, when the lights flickered and went out.